Women's Basketball Coach Carol Ross Resigns
Saturday, March 23, 2002 | Women's Basketball
In a stunning announcement today, Carol Ross resigned as head coach of the University of Florida women's basketball team.
Ross, who has spent the last 12 seasons as head coach of the Lady Gators, molded Florida into one of the nation's most competitive and talented programs. Ross leaves as the program's all-time winningest coach with a 247-121 record. She is a finalist for the 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year award, which will be presented on April 5 in Atlanta.
"I love this program. When you love something that much, you unselfishly do what is best for it. In this case, what's best is change," Ross said. "I believe the best is yet to come for Lady Gator Basketball. It has been a great journey. I have been blessed to coach many wonderful young ladies. My since of pride comes in the players who have chosen to wear the uniform."
"To say I was shocked about Carol's decision is an understatement," Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley said. "I met with her this morning to discuss her contract extension so I was blind-sided about the result of our meeting. Carol has done an unbelievable job developing the Lady Gator Basketball team into one of the finest in the country. We are so proud of the recognition and the class that she instilled into this program. On behalf of the University of Florida I want to thank Carol for everything she has done for this program and the way she and her players have represented the Gator athletic family. We will truly miss her."
While her abilities to recruit and mold young talent is well documented, what Ross did with the Lady Gator program is even more impressive.
Putting it gently, before Ross grabbed the Florida reigns, the Lady Gators were a competitive bunch in the mighty Southeastern Conference, but not too successful.
In the 16 total years – and 11 SEC seasons — prior to Carol Ross' arrival in Gainesville, UF won a total of 14 conference games. In 12 seasons under Ross, the Lady Gators notched 84 league wins, including a program-record 11 SEC victories in 2001 alone.
UF had never received a bid into the NCAA Tournament before Ross. This season, the Lady Gators appeared in their ninth NCAA Tournament in the last 10 years.
Before Ross: UF finished in the top-five of the SEC standings once (1) and never ranked higher than ninth place in the five years prior. After Ross: The Lady Gators have finished among the league's top-five in nine of the last 11 seasons.
Before Ross: UF tallied one (1) 20-win season in 16 years. After Ross: UF is averaging over 20 victories per season during her 12-year tenure, and almost 23 wins over the last 10 years.
Before Ross: UF was ranked in the top 25 national weekly polls twice (2) in 16 years. After Ross: UF has earned a spot among the nation's top 25 weekly poll 112 times since Feb. 21, 1994.
Before Ross: Never (0) ranked in the final top 25 poll. After Ross: Seven (6) final rankings in the last nine years.
Ross also developed the Lady Gators into some of the country's finest players. Eight former Lady Gators who have been coached by Ross are currently enjoying successful WNBA careers. Two of those players — Merlakia Jones and DeLisha Milton – have been named the WNBA All-Star teams. In addition, Murriel Page led the WNBA in field goal percentage in 1999 and 2000, while Sophia Witherspoon was one of the top scorers for the Portland Fire.
Milton became the second Lady Gator to play for the U.S. Olympic Basketball team, running with the Red, White & Blue in Sydney. Ross even donned the Red, White & Blue herself in 1998, when she selected as head coach of the U.S. Select Team.
Ross' achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 1994, Ross was selected by her peers as the SEC Coach of the Year and the WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year. In 1997 she again received WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year honors for lifting UF to its first top 10 national ranking and a trip to the NCAA Championship Elite Eight. Following the 2001 season, she was awarded both honors after leading the Lady Gators to a 24-6 overall record and a second place finish in the SEC. Ross was a finalist in 2001 and 2002 for the Naismith National Coach of the Year award.
At Florida, Ross has tutored 21 student-athletes to SEC Academic Honor Roll status 34 times and 15 to All-SEC honors 26 times.
Witty, warm, feisty and focused; colorful, caring, driven and distinctly southern, Ross turned the Florida women's basketball program from one without spark into one with spunk by instilling in it personality -- her own.
The 1998-99 season marked the 25th year of varsity women's basketball at the University of Florida. If anyone would know about the ins and outs of the program, it would be its founding "mothers."
When Lady Gator alumnae were asked to list the most significant event in the history of the basketball program, an overwhelming number mentioned "the hiring of Carol Ross."
"I didn't know much about Florida's program when I came in, but Coach Ross and Joi (Williams) had a dream and I wanted to be a part of that dream," said Merlakia Jones, who was a member of Ross' inaugural recruiting class. "I thank God for being a part of that."
Ross and her staff have been able to attract some the nation's best talent, including Jones, DeLisha Milton and Murriel Page, who took a chance on playing at Florida and have never regretted their decision.
Jones also became the first of seven All-Americans under Ross at Florida, who share 24 All-America honors.
Prior to Florida
Since the day she signed scholarship papers to play basketball at Ole Miss, her home-state university, Ross spent 23 years - including the 2002 season - both creating and soaking up the traditions of arguably the finest women's basketball conference in the country – the Southeastern Conference.
As a player at Ole Miss in the early 1980s, she was a member of the inaugural SEC All-Tournament Team. Ross was a pesky, tenacious guard who still ranks sixth on the league's all-time steals list.
As a seven-year assistant coach at Auburn, Ross reached the NCAA Championship game in each of her last three seasons, 1988, '89 and '90. Gainesville resident and 1996 Olympian Ruthie Bolton, along with SEC and USA standout Mae Ola Bolton, were among the players Ross recruited to Auburn.
Ross' resume of Olympians, scholar-athletes, professional players and basketball coaches is lengthy. Twenty three of Ross' former players and recruits have continued their basketball careers on the professional level, including current UF professionals Takilya Davis (Sweden), Merlakia Jones, DeLisha Milton, Murriel Page, Bridget Pettis, Tamara Stocks, Tiffany Travis, Tonya Washington and Sophia Witherspoon.
Ross earned her Bachelor's degree in Education from Ole Miss in 1982. Ross was a four-year starter for the Lady Rebels from 1978-81, when Ole Miss logged a 93-50 record. She became the fourth women's basketball player ever to be inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame, when she was honored on September 1, 2001.
Ross was named to the inaugural SEC All-Tournament team in 1980 and still holds the Ole Miss school record for steals in a career (333), season (135 in 1980) and in a game (11 vs. Southeastern Louisiana in 1980). Entering the 2002 season, she was No. 4 for career assists (531), her season total of 208 assists is the second-highest and her single game total of 13 dishes ranks tied-for-fifth in Lady Rebel history. Ross is one of only two players to record 1,000 points, 500 assists and 250 steals in a career.
After earning her degree, Ross served as a volunteer assistant at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., for one year before returning to the SEC as an assistant at Auburn. During that time she advanced from graduate assistant to top assistant and chief recruiter. She played a key role in the school's development and maturation into a perennial NCAA Tourney team.
The Oakland, Miss., native enjoys the Florida sunshine and all Gator sporting events. When the University hosted the 1999 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship, Ross volunteered her services to operate the scoreboard, field press box questions on the phone and soak in another successful season. She is a great tennis fan, having attended several professional Grand Slam events.
Ross was an active member of the Gainesville community, having served as a board member for both the American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer organization, which honored her as its 2000 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award winner. She has volunteered for a variety of community organizations through speaking engagements with UF student-athletes on topics such as literacy, while also participating in fundraising efforts for numerous charity groups.
Ross' Record
| SEC | |||||
| Year | Overall | SEC | Finish | Home | Postseason |
| 1990-91 | 17-11 | 3-7 | t-8th | 10-4 | — |
| 1991-92 | 15-13 | 4-7 | t-7th | 8-5 | — |
| 1992-93 | 19-10 | 6-5 | t-4th | 9-3 | NCAA |
| 1993-94 | 22-7 | 8-3 | 3rd | 14-0 | NCAA |
| 1994-95 | 24-9 | 7-4 | t-4th | 10-2 | NCAA |
| 1995-96 | 21-9 | 6-5 | t-5th | 9-1 | NCAA |
| 1996-97 | 24-9 | 9-3 | t-3rd | 9-3 | NCAA |
| 1997-98 | 23-9 | 10-4 | t-2nd | 16-0 | NCAA |
| 1998-99 | 19-14 | 6-8 | t-8th | 8-7 | NCAA |
| 1999-00 | 21-13 | 6-8 | t-6th | 11-3 | WNIT |
| 2000-01 | 24-6 | 11-3 | t-2nd | 12-3 | NCAA |
| 2001-02 | 18-11 | 8-6 | t-4th | 11-2 | NCAA |
| 12 Years | 247-121 | 84-63 | 128-33 | 9 NCAA , 1 WNIT |
Carol Ross has invested 23 years in the SEC
Four years as a player (Ole Miss)
Seven years as an assistant coach (Auburn)
12 years as a head coach (Florida)
Carol Ross at a Glance
Hometown: Oakland, Miss.
Education: Ole Miss (B.S. in Education, 1982)
Highlights:
*Finalist for 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year
*Finalist for 2001 Naismith National Coach of the Year
*Named 2001 WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year
*Named 1997 WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year
*Named 2001 SEC Coach of the Year (media)
*Named 1994 SEC Coach of the Year (coaches & media)
*2000 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award recipient
*Posted 24 upsets wins over higher-ranked opponents
*Head coach of the 1998 USA Select Team
*10 consecutive postseason berths (including 2002)
*Nine NCAA Championship appearances (including 2002)
*Seven 20-win seasons
*All-time winningest coach at Florida
*Coached players on the 1992, '96 & 2000 U.S. Olympic teams
*Coached the 1997 Wade Trophy winner
*Coached 1997 SEC Player of the Year
*Coached Florida's first-ever first team All-American (Kodak & Associated Press)
*Helped 15 students-athletes to 25 All-SEC accolades
*Tutored 21 student-athletes to 34 SEC Academic Honor Rolls
Did you Know...
Carol Ross became the fourth women's basketball player to be inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame, when she was honored on September 1, 2001.
Statements on Coach Ross' resignation
"To say I was shocked about Carol's decision is an understatement. I met with her this morning to discuss her contract extension so I was blind-sided about the result of our meeting. Carol has done an unbelievable job developing the Lady Gator Basketball team into one of the finest in the country. We are so proud of the recognition and the class that she instilled into this program. On behalf of the University of Florida I want to thank Carol for everything she has done for this program and the way she and her players have represented the Gator athletic family. We will truly miss her."
– Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley
"I was shocked and saddened at the news. It is a big loss. Not only is she a coach in our conference, but she is a special friend to me. No one has ever had a bigger impact on Lady Gator Basketball and Carol Ross did it with dignity and class. She made the decision that obviously she gave a lot of thought to. She leaves the Florida program in outstanding shape. Where ever her next career move takes her, I'm confident she will be a success."
– Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt
"I was in shock when (UF administrative assistant) Margie (Gill) called me with the news. As a coach, part of me can understand why she has made the decision she has. I have tremendous respect for what she has done for the program and for me. How she treats each player she comes in contact with is special and I think that's one reason she has so much respect and love from everyone she has coached. She's a person you can talk to at any time about anything. She just loves her former players, current players, assistants, everyone she comes in contact with and I think they all feel the same about her. I'm so sad that there are not enough Carol Ross' coaching our game."
– Kerry Cremeans (1990-94), Assistant Coach at Purdue and a freshman on Ross' first team at Florida
"I'm totally shocked. It was an honor and privilege to have been a part of the Carol Ross era of women's basketball at Florida. I was a player and an assistant coach under her and it was very special for me. She has been the most significant person in my career and is still the person I turn to first for advice no matter what the situation is. I'm thankful to have her in my life. The college game has lost a significant member of its coaching fraternity. She's a wonderful lady and has a profound impact on many people's lives besides mine. The University of Florida made a great choice to select her to begin a winning tradition."
– Amanda Butler (1990-94), Assistant Coach at Charlotte and a freshman on Ross' first team at Florida
END OF REPORT
